Washing and drying machine



Nov. 13, 1951 c. o. RASMUSSEN 2,574,798

WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l W 7! 6a2 79 J87, 7 0 a; /5 87 :4 J7 1/ 39 .56 V :17

3 a? 72 I0 l 89 I 9 HI 4/ 7 a a j Z/ 20 22 2e Nov. 13, 1951 Q QRASMUSSEN 2,574,798

WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IINVENTOR. firzfzalz 0. fiasmame/z 1951 I c. o. RASMUSSEN WASHING ANDDRYING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 mmvrox. (A/131F112 Q/ias'muuevz FiledJan. 21, 1947 Patented Nov. 13, 1951.

WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Christian Oskar Rasmussen, mark, assignor toSimplex, mark, a Danish company Application January 21, 1947, Serial No.

Copenhagen, Den- Copenhagen, Den- In New Zealand January 7, 1946 Section1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires January 7, 1966 Claims.1

The present invention relates to an improved washing or drying machineof the kind having during the washing period air circulation through thewater by means of a fan in the lid of the machine pressing the airthrough a space between the wall of the washing tub and an innercontainer through the open bottom of which the air passes into theinterior of the container with water and clothes.

It is known to fix the top part of said inner container to the lid ofthe washing tub and to let the said top part rest with an airtightlining on the vertical walls of the container being retained in the tubwhen the lid and the-top part are removed.

A washing or drying machine is also known, comprising a centrifugal drumdisposed in the interior of the container and resting on a central baseor bearing fixed to the bottom of the washing tub, while the drum can beremoved during the washing periods. In the drying periods the tub isemptied of water, the vertical walls of the container are removed andthe drum is filled with clothes and put into a rotating movement by thecirculating air which passes wings formed in the walls of the drum or bya mechanical power transmission from "the shaft of the fan to the drum.

The main object of the invention is to provide the machine with a baseor hearing which can be removed during the washing periods, as apermanent central base or hearing during said periods may tear theclothes.

The invention consists of an improved washing or drying machine of thekind first reterred to, in which the open bottom end of the innercontainer is situated in such a. distance from the bottom of the tubthat supporting legs on a removable base can pass under the containerand rest along the border of the bottom of the tub when the machine isnot in use, said base supporting a column on the upper end of which adetachable centrifugal drum is mounted, having wings for rotation of thedrum in order to dry the clothes and being dimensioned in such a mannerthat it can be disposed in the interior of the container, the upper partof which being closed with a plate beneath the lid of the tub, saidplate having operable means for guiding the air current.

Another object oi the invention is to obtain an airtight packing ring orlining at the border of the top part of the container to cooperate withthe upper border of the vertical walls of said container, and for thispurpose the pack- 2 ing ring is fixed by glueing or vulcanizing to thelower side of the plate or a flange attached thereto.

In order to secure the best possible guidance of the air current themachine has in the plate forming the top part of the container adownwards turned and open cone in which another and movable cone,connected to the braking handles when used, puts the cones in contactwith each other, realizing guide of the air current to the use ofsuction and pressure for washing or drying respectively.

The invention also comprises means for facilitating the removal of thecontainer during the drying periods and means for supporting a removableperforated bottom or wire net of the container, said means consisting ofprojections at the inner lower end of the container for supporting aremovable perforated bottom or wire net, said projectionsconsistingpreferably of legs projecting from the surface of the container. Thebottom or net makes it possible after each washing period to take up thecontainer with the clothes therein as in a basket. The perforated bottomor net can be disposed on the bottom of the tub when the machine is notin In order that the machine could also be used as a plate-washer thesaid bottom or net can be provided with guides or grooves for placingtableware, and the machine can have an expansible grate to be fixed in agroove in the interior ofthe container above said net or bottom for'thesupporting of the plates to be washed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a noise absorbing supportfor the centrifugal drum and for this purpose the machine has a basewith a rubber sleeve as a bearing for the column on which thecentrifugal drum is mounted. The drum is suspended by a ball turning ina ball cup on the end of a column, said ball cup having a diameter whichis greater than that of the ball, and said ball being itself looselyfixed in a spherical hearing. In this bearing horizontal movement of thedrum will not be transferred to the column, and even small horizontalmovements of the column will not be transferred through the rubbersleeve to the tub.

According to a further feature of the invention a row of vertical wingsare disposed inside the top of the centrifugal drum, giving this drum arotating movement when the air current is caused to circulate, which issuflicient to probe released without the drum being braked at the sametime.

The invention also comprises a frame on which the tub is looselydisposed, and to which the machine lid is hinged in order to facilitateits opening, and the lid is preferably mounted in journals on a handlebar linked to the column on the frame supporting the tub. In a preferredform the mounting of the lid must only be tiltable to such an extentthat in any open position its lower border will remain over the tub inorder that water dripping from the lid will fall into the tub.

The invention finally comprises means for opening the lid with the foot,said means consisting therein that a retraction spring is disposedbetween a sleeve fixed to the interior of the column and an enlargementat the lower end of the bar linked to the handle bar, said enlargementbeing in cooperation with a horizontal bar, which is slidably controlledby a spring-controlled pedal in such a way that the enlargement islocked by the horizontal bar, when the machine lid is in its closedposition, and is released from the said position, when the pedal ispushed down.

The accompanying drawings shows an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a vertical middle section of the machine, when used as adrier,

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the frame of the machine with themachine lid,

Fig. 3 shows a perforated bottom plate for the container,

Fig. 4 shows a section along the line H of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 shows an expansible grate for cooperation with said perforatedbottom,

Fig. 6 shows a section along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 shows certain parts in the interior of the machine seen fromabove with the lid broken y,

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1, when the ma-' chine is used as awasher, and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 8, when the machine is not inuse.

The washing machine comprises a tub I having a bottom 2 and a removablecover 3 in which a fan 5 is suspended in bearings B from a dome I. Whenthe fan is operated, air is taken in at the lower side of its wings Iand discharged at the upper side of the wings I as indicated by thearrows 8. The fan 5 is surrounded by a downwardly tapered cone 9 formedin a plate III which along its edge is secured to a cylindrical ring I Ithe upper rim of which is secured to the cover 3 of the machine.

The said cone 9 is provided with large openings I2 which may, however,be closed by inserting a movable cone l3 into the cone 9.

At the lower end the cone 9 has a supporting ring I4 in which aperforated deflector I5 and a net are mounted.

When the machine is used as a drier, on the bottom 2 of the tub I thereis placed a tripod the legs I6 of which are extended to thecircumference of the bottom 2 and carrying at its upper end a. resilientbearing II for a spindle I8 which in turn supports a centrifugal drumI9. This spindle carries at its upper end a ball cup 20, and restingthereon a ball 2| with a smaller diameter than the ball cup 20. Thisball 2I is loosely fixed in a spherical bearing 22 mounted on the drumI9. At the upper end of its circumference the centrifugal drum I9carries a row of vertical wings 23, and the bottom 24 of the drum I9 isplaced so low in relation to the bearing of the drum I9 that the centerof gravity of the drum with washings therein will be positioned belowthe lower surface of the-ball 2 I.

When the machine is used as a washer, on the bottom 2 of the tub I thereis placed a container 25 open at its lower end. The container 25 issupported by three legs 26, of which only two are shown in Fig. 8. Theselegs 26 have projections 21 extending so far inside the inner diameterof the container 25 as to serve the purpose of supporting a looseperforated bottom 28 which is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the said bottomhaving a series of guides 29 each provided with a series of holes 30.

Furthermore, the container 25 has a groove 3I in which an elasticallyexpansible grate 32 shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may be mounted. This grate32, which may also be deposited on the bottom 2 of the tub I, comprisesa number of parallel rods 33 secured to a slitted ring. When the grate32 is mounted in the container 25 the free ends 34 of the ring 32 arepressed together so that the grate 32 can be laid down into the groove3|, and when next the grate is released the ring 32 will elasticallyexpand in the groove 3|. The grate cooperates with the bottom 28 whenplates are to be washed in the machine, the plates being placed on thebottom and laterally supported by the rods 33.

The container 25 has also finger pockets 35 continuously connected tothe cylindrical wall of the container 25 and being so large as to beengaged by the fingers of the worker when the container 25 should betaken out of the tub I.

At the upper end the container 25 is provided with an air-proof packingring 36 abutting against a flange 31 at the lower end of the ring II,but the packing ring 36 may also be glued or vulcanized to the lowersurface of the flange 31.

When washings are to be cleaned in the machine the cover 3 is lifted andall the parts of the tub I are removed. The loose bottom 28 ispositioned in the container 25 abutting against the projections 21, andthe washing is filled into the container 25 which is next mounted in thetub I by the worker, inserting his finger into the finger pockets 35.Then the tub I is filled with water, and the cover 3 is closed therebyproviding air-tight connection between the container 25 and the plate Informing the cover for the container. Then the cone I3 is inserted intothe cone 9 and the air contained in the machine is forced in thedirection indicated by the arrow 39 through the holes 38 of the ring IIout into the space between the tub I and the container 25. Here the airwill press the water level down, and the air will flow below the edge ofthe container 25 and up through the holes 30 in the bottom 28 of thecontainer, the movement of the washing being thereby initiated. The airwill fiow upwards through the water and the washing in the interior ofthe container 25 and then be sucked in by the wings I of the fan 5. Thedefiector I5 will prevent the washing, waterdr-ops and soap fromtouching the wings "I. When the wash is finished the cover 3 is openedagain, and the container 25 with the cleaned washing can be removed fromthe tub I while the water is tapped from the tub by means of a tap 40.

When the washing is then to be dried in the will be driven out againstthe outer wall of the drum I9 the diameter of which increases slightlydownwardly, and the water will then be discharged through a slit 42along the lower edge of the drum. The air will through openings 43 inthe bottom 24 of the drum I9.pass upwards to the wings I.

As will be understood the position of the cone I3 will determine whetherthe air inside the wings I should be blown out through the openings I2as indicated by the arrow H, or through the holes 38 as indicated by thearrow 39. I

The driving device of the cone I3 is shown in Fig.5. To open the cover 3a pair of hoop-shaped handles II must be turned upwardly into a positionshown in dotted lines 13 in Fig. 1. Each handle II has an arm I4 pivotedto a vertical rod 15, which is secured by a pin to a sleeve 16 on abraking arm 11, pivoted at one end in a fixed bearing I8 and carrying atits other end a rod 81 with a braking block I2. The rod 81 is introducedinto an opening in the plate I8, and in order to keep this openingclosed in an airtight manner, a packing plate 88 round the rod 81 ispressed against the plate III by a helical spring 89. By lifting thehandle II the rod I5 is pressed down thereby pressing the braking block12 against the upper surface of the centrifugal drum I9 to stop the drumI9 before the cover 3 is opened.

However, the braking arm I1 carries a crank arm 88 pivoted to adouble-armed lever 83 rotating on a fixed pin 8| and being again bymeans of a pin slidable in a longitudinal slit pivoted to a double-armedlever 84. This lever 84 is rotatably mounted on a fixed pin 82and'carries a hoop 85 pivoted to vertical arms of which only one isshown in Fig. 1, the said vertical arms being secured inwardly of thecone I3 the vertical movement of which is controlled by a guide notshown in the drawings. When the rod I5 is pressed down the crank arm 88together with the outer end of the lever 83 is lowered while whereas theopposite ends of the levers 83 and 84 are lifted. Consequently the hoop85 will be lowered thus barring the air flow to the wings 23, andsimultaneously the drum I9 will be-checked. When starting the operationair will not be admitted to the wings 23 until the cover 3 has beensecured to the tub I by pressing the handles II down to the positionshown in Fig. l. The fastening means cooperating with the handles II mayconsist of hooks or claws mounted in the cover 3 and adapted to engageor disengage with fixed abutments on the tub I when the handles II aremanipulated. The fastening means being of a simple type and notdisclosing any novel features they are not shown in the drawings therebyfacilitating the disclosure.

In Fig. 2 a frame is shown comprising three legs 44, 45 and 46 carryinga circular ring 41 of angular cross section. The tub I may be looselyrotating the latter, and the water in the washing mounted on the saidring as shown in dotted lines 43'. The cover 3 is suspended from abifurcated arm 48 having the front ends of its prongs 49 connected bymeans of a handle 59. At the rear end'the arm 48 is by means of a pin 5|pivoted to a lug 52 secured to the leg 46 which is longer than the legs4'4 and and takes the form of a column. By means of a link 53 the arm 48is connected to a rod 54 mounted in the hollow leg 46 and cooperatingwith a tension spring 55 so as to open the cover 3 when a pedal 56 ispressed down by the foot. By means of a pin 51 the pedal is pivoted on9. lug 58 at the front end of a tube 59 which at the rear end opensintothe hollow leg 46. The pedal 56 is pivotally connected with a stop rod60 which by action of a coil spring 6I is pressed against a shortcylinder 63 fastened to the lower end of the rod 54 and forming anenlargement thereof. When the cover 3 is closed the rod 68 will engagewith a hole 64 in the cylinder 63 thereby retaining the cover 3 in aclosed position. When pressing down the pedal 56 the stop rod 66 isdisengaged from the cylinder. 63, and the coil spring 55, which is atension spring, secured at its lower end to the cylinder 63 and at itsupper end to a metal ring 66, secured to the leg 46 by means of a screw65, will pull the cylinder 63 upwardly to open the cover. At the frontend the tube 59 is secured to the upper side of a cross member Blconnecting the legs 44 and 45.

The cover 3 is pivotally mounted in the prongs 49 of the arm 48. Eachprong 49 has a longitudinal slit 68 for a journal 69 on the cover 3. Inconsequence of the bearings in the prongs 49 the cover 3 can easily fitinto the tube and be pressed into its place when the arm 48 is swungdown towards the tub I. When being opened the cover 3 will swing a.little, and in consequence of the weight of the parts in the*' dome 4the lower point 18 of the cover 3 will be swung inwardly over the tub sothat the cover may drain oif therein.

The resilience of the spring 55 is so adapted that in connection withthe friction of the various sliding members belonging to the openingdeviceof the cover it will retain the'cover in any open position.However, the spring 55 may be replaced by a counterweight. Copendingapplication Serial No. 723,261, filed January 21, 1947, contains subjectmatter related to that herein disclosed.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by,Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for performing the two operations of washing articleswith a washing fluid and subsequently removing the washing fluid fromthe articles, the combination of a receptacle for containing said fluid;a casing, dimensioned to provide a space between said receptacle andsaid casing, for containing the articles to be washed; a drum forcontaining the washed articles, having fluid discharge ports, saidcasing and said drum being operatively disposed in said receptacleduring said operations of the 7 machine, in succession; means forrotatably supporting said drum in said receptacle, said means beingremovably mounted in said receptacle; a removable cover for saidreceptacle; means carried on the inner side of said cover for inducing aflowing current of air, said receptacle, casing and cover being sodesigned and related, when said casing is disposed in said receptacleand said cover closes said receptacle that a conduit for 7 said aircurrent is provided so that the current flows from said inducing meansdownwardly through said space between the receptacle and the casing andupwardly through said casing to said inducing means; a plurality ofimpeller blades on said drum; a housing depending from said cover, aboutsaid inducing means and having a plurality of air ports. said portsbeing dis-.

posed adjacent said blades when the drum is mounted in the receptacleand the cover closes the receptacle; and a manually operated deflectorshiftable on said cover for movement into and out of position betweensaid ports and said blades, said deflector directing said current intosaid conduit when in said position, and said current impinging saidblades to rotate the drum when the deflector is out of said position.

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which an annular plate depends fromthe cover, said housing comprises a frusto-conical member dependingconcentrically from said plate, said air ports being disposedcircumferentially of said member, and said deflector comprises afrusto-conical member concentric with said housing and shiftable axiallyof said housing.

3. A machine according, to claim 1 in which a pair of operating handlesare pivoted on the outside of the cover, and linkages connect saidhandles with said deflector whereby said deflector is shiftable bymanipulation of said handles when the cover closes the receptacle.

4. A machine according to claim 1 in which a brake is movably mounted onthe inner face of the cover, co-acting with said drum; a pair of 8operating handles are pivoted on the outside of the cover. and linkagesconnect said handles with said brake whereby said drum can be braked bymanipulation of said handles when the cover closes the receptacle.

5. A machine according to claim 1 in which a brake is movably mounted onthe inner face of the cover, co-acting with said drum, a pair ofoperating handles are pivoted on the outside of the cover, and linkagesconnect said handles with said deflector and said brake whereby saiddeflector is shiitable and said drum can be braked, by manipulation ofsaid handles when the cover closes the receptacle.

CHRIS'IIAN OSKAR RASMUSSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 309,826 Dolph Dec. 30, 18841,731,517 Barker Oct. 15, 1929 1,899,005 Barker Feb. 28, 1933 1,913,600Krauss June 13, 1933 1,927,433 Case Sept. 19, 1933 2,106,609 Krauss Jan.25, 1938 2,203,029 Partridge June 4, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 60,248 Denmark Oct. 19, 1942 232,583 Switzerland Sept. 1, 1944

